A/N Here you are for the loyal Payson/Sasha shippers a chapter to tide you over, sadly still don't own MIOBI
Chapter 18
He sits down in his office and starts flipping through his paperwork, he reaches into his draw to grab a pen but his hand closes on something cold and metal.
Pulling it out he sees the gold medal, turning it over he reads the inscription.
Payson Keller
London
2012
He runs his hand over it as he thinks back to the moment she gave him this.
He stands on the balcony at a closing party nursing his drink.
"Why are you out here?" asks a voice.
He turns and sees Payson walking towards him in a green dress that perfectly matches her eyes and she looked beautiful.
"It was getting a bit crowded in there" he replies.
"You think you're crowded, this is the first moment I've gotten where I'm not being harassed" she says.
"Well you're a four time gold medallist and you got silver on your other two apparatus, you're the brightest star of the night, everyone clamouring for your attention" he smiles.
"Mind if this star hides out here, my face hurts from smiling and MJ can handle the endorsements?" she asks leaning against the rail.
"No at all" he replies.
"Oh that reminds me speaking of medals" she smiles and pulls a gold medal out of her beg and hands it to him.
He takes it and looks on the back.
You know I said I wanted my gold medal back" he teases.
"I've grown kind of attached to it, if that one's not to your liking I've got three others" she teases.
"Touché, thank you, I'll treasure it" he smiles.
"I don't know what to do now" she sighs.
"What do you mean?" asks Sasha.
"Well it's over, I've been working towards this goal since I was little, and now it's done, I've fulfilled my life dream, I made it to the Olympics I have my medals, I don't know what to do with my life now" she explains.
"You could keep competing" he suggests.
She looks at him, "I think we both know my body isn't up to it, herniated disk, broken back, I'm too old for this sport, it's time for the young spry things who never ache and just bounce when they fall, competitive gymnastics is over for me" she replies.
"Well I do have a suggestion but you've rejected it so many times I don't know if it's worth asking again" he says.
"What?" she asks.
"Come back to the rock with me and coach, you're a natural, from what I've heard you kept everyone and every thing in check while Darby was here and I'm pretty sure you enjoy it" he smiles.
She looks down at her hands, "well I've got some more stuff to do first but, yes Sasha I will take you up on that, if you stand being stuck with me" she teases.
"Oh I'm sure I can manage" he replies.
"Good, trading one Keeler woman for the other I suppose now my moms gone" she says.
"Well I don't think the rock could handle both Keeler women at once" he teases.
"Yeah I mean you'd be out of a job" she says.
"I know and I am rather fond of it, I'm glad you're sticking around Payson, I feel like a bird and all the chicks have left the nest, all my stars gone, but I get to keep the brightest" he smiles.
"That you do" she agrees.
"Happy to have you on board" he says holding out his hand.
"Happy to be on board" she replies shaking his hand.
Instead of letting go they'd stood like that just looking out at the London skyline.
Payson shivered slightly and Sasha slipped off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"London is pretty damn cold" she says.
"Yeah it's not exactly famed for seeing the sunshine that's for sure" he agrees but doesn't take her hand again.
"It's pretty though and Big Ben is nice, you know Rigo had it as his alarm, he said it was a reminder of where he wanted to be, and how much he wanted it" says Payson.
"Interesting theory" says Sasha trying to ignore the jealousy seizing his heart.
"Yeah, but I guess it worked, even if he didn't get his medal" replies Payson.
"So is he coming back to Boulder with you?" asks Sasha.
"Yeah, we're getting a place with my parents in Minnesota you know need a place to live plus it'll be nice to have my own place, as much as I love my family I'm looking forward to having my own space" smiles Payson.
"I know the feeling" agrees Sasha.
"He won't be there all the time, unlike me he's carrying on with his BMX biking it's not limited the way gymnastics is and lets face it even if I didn't have my injuries I've peaked now, I think we all have really, Lauren's heart is a problem, Kaylie feels like she needs to leave it behind and Austin's decided that he's gotten a bit old for it now, it's a shame he didn't get here this year, but I guess we can't always get everything, I'm just glad that Lauren and Kaylie did, Jordan too, she's actually nice and now we know why she seemed to be such a bitch, and that little snake Wendy, I mean I'm annoyed by the fact she ratted me out for being out with Rigo I'm even more pissed about her drugging Kaylie, what a little psycho I mean I'm not overly fond of perky people but that was just so low, not even Lauren ever resorted to that and Lauren did some pretty questionable things, I hope she rots the little bitch, I wish I'd gotten to give her piece of my fist, if Coach McIntire and Marcus hadn't been there she'd have got my foot up her head and this time you wouldn't be walking in to distract me" says Payson.
"Yes that was pretty extreme, I'm glad Lauren figured it out, and that you guys all said you'd boycott if they didn't let Kaylie compete, and what do you mean I wasn't going to walk in and distract you?" he asks.
"The first day you came to the rock I saw Lauren and I said to Kaylie that Lauren was going to get my foot up her bleach blonde head if someone didn't hold me back, to which Kaylie replied, I'm not holding you back and then you walked in and all thoughts of kicking Lauren went out of my mind" explains Payson.
"Nice to know I had such an affect" he smiles.
"Seriously, Sasha Belov walked into my gym to be the new coach of course you had that affect" replies Payson.
"Shame your parents didn't get affected like that" replies Sasha.
"Yeah, but I promised they'd stop behaving like children and they did, I honestly couldn't believe you knew my name" says Payson.
"The great Payson Keeler, of course I knew your name Payson, more so than any of the other girls, you were on of the best gymnasts around even if you hadn't mastered smiling" he laughs.
"I learnt, I guess that stupid fashion show did help, even if it did have some drama" admits Payson.
"See sometimes giving something you doubt a go you find you can enjoy it, I think you have seen that more than anyone" he says.
"Yeah and odd how it always seems to be you who introduces me to them isn't it, I'll be sure to pass on the words of wisdom I learnt from the great Sasha Belov to my children" she smiles.
Sasha's heart starts to beat faster.
"Not for some time don't stress, I am no Emily" assures Payson.
"Yes the one of my rock girls who didn't break the no dating rule, not even once" he laughs.
"Nope, I saw how much drama it caused, Kaylie and Lauren over the whole Carter thing I mean phew that was enough to turn me off any rock guys, which is exactly what I told Max" nods Payson.
"Oh if all the girls had that mentality" he prays.
"Well I'm sure the new group will have far less drama than ours did, I don't think I could go through any of that again" says Payson.
"Amen to that" agrees Sasha.
They stand there in happy silence their arms just touching.
"So what about Summer is she still managing the rock then since my mom?" asks Payson.
"On and off, but no not really anymore, and since I've lost your mom as well I'm a mess" he sighs dramatically.
"And I thought Lauren was a drama queen" giggles Payson nudging him playfully.
"Oh well I can be pretty dramatic" he argues.
"Please leave it Lauren" she begs.
"Yeah I don't think I could out do Lauren Tanner" chuckles Sasha.
"I will be scared the day I meet anyone who can" laughs Payson.
"Me too" agrees Sasha.
They then hear MJ through the doors.
"Shit she's probably looking for me; I cannot deal with more schmoozing" whines Payson.
"Quick hide then" says Sasha as he grabs Payson's hand and pulls her around the corner out of sight.
They hear the door open.
"Payson" calls MJ.
Sasha pressed a finger to his lips.
They hear the door close and peer around the corner and see the coast is clear and then burst out laughing.
"She's pretty damn persistent" giggles Payson.
"Oh yes she really is" agrees Sasha.
"Thank you I swear I need a break" she sighs.
"Well you'll be stuck with it for a bit longer yet, but don't worry I won't let them in the rock" he promises.
"My hero" smiles Payson.
It's at that moment that they realise how close they are, their hands still entwined.
The tension in the air is tangible as Payson looks at Sasha and he looks back at her, both frozen as a variety of thoughts run through their heads.
A few centimetres closer and they'd be kissing.
"I should probably head up to my room if I don't want MJ to find me" says Payson trying to calm her irregular breathing and her pounding heart.
"Yeah it's probably the best bet" agrees Sasha as he swallows his throat suddenly very dry.
But neither one moves locked in their position.
Then Sasha's phone rings breaking the moment and Payson steps back and looks away awkwardly as she starts playing with her hair.
"Hello" answers Sasha clearing his throat as he looks at Payson.
"Oh hi MJ" he says and Payson looks at him.
"No, no I haven't seen Payson, I think she went to bed" he replies.
He's silent for a moment.
"Yeah sorry but it's been a pretty exhausting day so I think you should let her get some rest" he says.
Again a pause.
"Okay see you tomorrow MJ" he says as he hangs up.
"Thank you" smiles Payson.
"Anytime, come on then, I'll cover you while you sneak upstairs" promises Sasha.
"Thank you" repeats Payson.
She takes his jacket off and hands it back to him.
"See you in the morning" she says.
"Sleep well" he smiles.
They slip back inside and Payson makes it out unseen by everyone but him.
Once he's sure she's clear he heads up to his own room, as he puts his jacket back on he can faintly smell her perfume on it and he smiles to himself as he thinks of their moment and her smiling face is the last thing he sees before he falls asleep that night.
He looks at the medal and for some reason he just can't help himself he slides it over his head and looks at it, unlike his medal this one was attached to good memories and he would treasure each and everyone.
A/N So there you go, fear not realisation is coming, Kelly is not yet finished not even close, hope you enjoyed, review, follow and fav please :)